Career Guidance Services in the Czech
Republic
Jasmin Muhič
National Educational Institute
Projekt: EDU.REGION, M00201
National Educational Institute








analyses and research related to counselling services in education and educational and
psychological aspects of education
drafts of legislative and methodological acts regulating a provision of counselling
services in education
further and continuing education for psychologists, teachers, special pedagogues
transfer of scientific information from the fields of psychology, special education,
educational-psychological, special-educational and career counselling
publication of methodological materials, scientific and informational quarterly journal
and other scientific, methodological and informational materials for the use of school
counselling authorities, teachers and other people involved in the educationalpsychological counselling
coordination of mutual cooperation of schools, school facilities, regional autonomy in
the area of school counselling provision
exchange of experience among the educational-psychological counselling experts
cooperation with Czech and foreign experts in the fields of psychology, special
education, educational-psychological, special-educational, educative and career
counselling, healthcare and social service
Guidance services in schools






educational counsellors - teachers working on a part-time basis as guidance
counsellors; methodologically supported by the relevant educationalpsychological counselling centre (PPP)
school prevention consultant - prevention of risky behaviour
school psychologists - reduce the risk of the behavioural and educational
problems in children, educational and psychological care provision,
counselling, diagnostics
special pedagogues - care for pupils with sensory, physical, mental or
speech impairment
career education - subject matters Vocational choice (primary schools) and
Introduction to the world of work (secondary schools)
School Counselling Centre – a limited number funded by ESF (project VIP
Career)
Educational-psychological counselling centres
(PPP)





independent counselling facilities securing psychological and
special educational services for the children and youth of the 319 years age-range
services for parents, teachers, and for educators in all nursery,
primary and secondary schools
the services are focused on psychological care, counselling, and
on professional consultations in the issues of personality and
educational development of children and youth
staff: psychologists, special pedagogues, social workers
at present the network of Counselling Centres consists of round
100 state run facilities with the field of action usually in the
framework of the appropriate district, of 2 private Counselling
Centres, and of 1 church Counselling Centre
Other Educational Counselling
Facilities

Special educational centres (SPC) - counselling and educational care to children
and young people with sight, hearing, physical, mental or combined disabilities, and
with communication disorders; established since 1990, especially as attached to special
nursery and primary schools for children and adolescents with sensory, physical, and
mental handicap and for children with speech defects; around 100 facilities

Educational Care Centres (SVP) - prevention and the therapy for disaffected
children and youth at risk; non-resident and the resident preventive educational care
for children and youth with behavioural disorders; established since 1991; at present 28
facilities

Information centres for youth (ICM) - information on educational opportunities for
all age categories; leisure activities; travelling; prevention; counselling

Guidance centres at higher education institutions (HEIs) - at most of faculties
and at some of HEIs they were established as a central body for the entire HEI;
services for students (possibilities of career development, managing of stress
connected with exams etc.) as well as for study applicants (study program information)
Employment Sector





Labour office - department of intermediation - present in all districts;
information on unemployed expectants and available work positions,
intermediation between employers and job seekers
Labour office – department of guidance and professional requalifications - a wide range of services from basic advices and information
to specific guidance for solving complex problems (including professional
diagnostics and psycho-social support)
Labour office – information and counselling centre (IPS UP) - selfserviced or counsellor-assisted information centre collects information about
education offers of all types of schools and private educators as well as about
particular occupations and labour market. All types of information can be
found there – brochures, PC programs, multimedia, Internet)
External balance diagnostics centres - expert counselling services for
labour office’s clients. Balance diagnostics is tool for overall potential
assessment of client and his/her actual possibilities in labour market.
Personal placement services intermediate work places for their clients
(both employers and unemployed expectants).
Other providers and organizations






Career guidance centre at the National Institute of Technical and Vocational
Education (CKP NUOV) provides services for children and their parents as well as for
adults aimed at helping with educational and professional choice. It also collects detail
information about particular education programs, offer of study programs etc.
Centre Europass in National institute of technical and vocational education provides
information and guidance on support of European mobility in education and labor
market and administrates recognition of secondary education across European
countries.
Customer centre at the Institute for Information in Education (UIV) provides
wide range of information on educational offer of schools.
Guidance services support unit (SPPS) focuses on support of guidance services
within the labour market sector and monitoring of guidance services in education
sector, particularly in higher education.
Regional information and guidance centres for entrepreneurs (RPIC) provide
support and information to people interested in entrepreneurship and in starting their
own business and also to current entrepreneurs.
NGOs offer wide range of career guidance services or assistance for all sorts of target
groups (especially for disadvantaged groups of persons).
Projects and policies for career guidance
development




National Guidance Forum – informal forum of various experts; to bridge the gap
between career guidance provision in sectors of education and employment; transfer of
European experiences into the Czech context
ESF project VIP Career (Education – Information – Guidance) - developing and
improving of pedagogical counselling and career guidance in schools; implemented by
NUOV and IPPP; three main components of the project: Information system on
situation of school leavers in the labour market (integrated Internet portal); school
counselling centres network (over one hundred pilot schools with school psychologists
and/or special pedagogues); teachers’ and counsellors’ continuing education in career
guidance (both class courses and e-Learning courses).
ESF project UNIV (Recognition of the results of informal learning and non-formal
education by networks of schools providing the education service for adults) - six pilot
regions participating in this project
ESF project IPSYS (Information and career guidance system for further vocational
education) - on-line tool (www.vaseprofese.cz) for career and educational orientation,
finding the optional profession, and on market available training opportunities